F1 | Sparks fly between Toto Wolff and Nico Rosberg amid George Russell uncertainty. Toto Wolff faces criticism from Nico Rosberg.

From the Oxfordshire kitchen to accusations of disappearing during driver negotiations: Wolff defends himself against Rosberg’s claims about Russell

Under the intense scrutiny of the Formula 1 paddock, Toto Wolff finds himself caught between the uncertain future of George Russell and the pointed accusations of former teammate Nico Rosberg. The Mercedes team principal has responded firmly, insisting that he is always “loyal” and makes a point of “putting himself in the other person’s shoes” during negotiations with his drivers. Yet, according to various sources, Wolff’s approach reportedly changes depending on which driver he is negotiating with.

Toto Wolff recalls how conversations in his Oxfordshire kitchen helped convince Lewis Hamilton to remain with Mercedes. It was 2016, and Nico Rosberg, his teammate at the time, had just beaten him to the World Championship. “We were in the kitchen. I told him—and Susie didn’t love the comparison—that even if she and I disagreed on something, I would never think of divorcing. With you, it’s the same, Lewis,” Wolff recounted to The Times. “I don’t want a divorce. If you are the best driver, I want you in our car, and we want to give you the best car possible.” Wolff continued, “At first, the discussion was tough, but after four or five hours in the kitchen, we ended up on a completely different level.”

Rosberg’s accusations and the vacation with Max Verstappen
However, Nico Rosberg, who raced for Mercedes from 2010 to 2016 before retiring suddenly after winning the World Championship, tells a different story about Wolff’s negotiation tactics. “It’s horrible to negotiate with Toto,” he said to Sky F1 at Spa. “Because his tactic is to disappear.” According to Rosberg, this is exactly what current Mercedes driver George Russell is experiencing right now. “Like George now, he’s trying to get in touch with him, but Toto disappears.”

And where is Wolff during this period? “On vacation with his long-desired target, Max Verstappen, in Sardinia.” Following the circulation of some fake images of the two on social media before the Belgian Grand Prix, sources close to the matter confirm that this time, the photos appearing online—including in a post by Autosprint on their own social channels—are authentic.